ADIEU, PA ACHEBE....

By Omoseye Bolaji

Alas, nobody lives forever and the exceedingly revered African writer, Chinua Achebe (82) “has gone the way of all flesh”. But as the Americans would say: What a way to go!

The iconic author of Things fall apart (1958) has already made his mark as probably Africa’s most powerful novelist. Immediately after news of his death was confirmed, tributes and articles on his life and work began to be churned out. And this is only the beginning!

Indeed, it has been exhilarating to see how the demise of Achebe has been lamented all over the world, including South Africa where ample news items, bulletins, magazines kept on paying tribute to the loss of the great man.

And South African writers on the ground too are also feeling the loss. Indeed many of these writers, even the very young, continue to insist how much they enjoyed; were shaped by Achebe’s work from a very young age.

Among such writers is Teboho Masakala, still in his mid twenties but already the author of four books! He has always stressed how much he enjoyed reading Achebe’s books (from his local library) from a very young age. He said:

"It' s such a tragedy to lose a legend and icon, I grew up reading his books and No longer at ease thrilled and enticed me so much, Achebe is my literary giant and really we lost a giant and hope to follow in his giant footprints he left behind. Yes things just fell apart as he is no more on earth but he is at ease and at peace..."

Pule Lechesa, a well known South African literary critic also paid tribute to Achebe, saying inter alia: “We knew it was inevitable, but this loss is poignant and quite shattering. Achebe was more than a literary teacher and pioneer. He made Blacks to be respected world-wide. His imaginative works were among the best in the world – novels like Things fall apart, Arrow of God, and Anthills of the savannah”

Again, it was touching this week whilst at a Book launch in South Africa (involving female writer Charmaine Kolwane) speaker after speaker gravely kept on lamenting and praising Chinua Achebe. A formal minute’s silence was also observed in his honour.

Achebe was very much his own man and was not afraid to ruffle feathers, even the western world and pertinent canon. Hence his so-called controversial essay on the acclaimed Joseph Conrad which shocked many; where he referred to Conrad as “a thoroughgoing racist” It is a polemical essay now ensconced world-wide.

Achebe was extraordinarily versatile, despite the fact that he is known to most mainly as a novelist. But as we just noted, he produced many superb literary essays (quite a number of books in this wise); as well as poetry, books for children – and general essays in which he deprecated the goings-on not only in Nigeria but in the “developing” world.

I am happy that as an editor myself (in South Africa) I have been able to publish several articles celebrating the passing of Achebe. Yes, he has departed this world – but what indelible patent footprints he has left around the world!

·      *  Other tributes (essays) written by Bolaji touching on the passing of Achebe are available on other websites/blogs